Racepass could transform running registration in this country or blow up in the company founders’ faces as race directors nationally realize their event is being advertised without their consent.

So what is Racepass? It is the first subscription-based membership for distance races. For a flat annual fee, Racepass members can enter a pre-determined or, at the highest level, unlimited number of races in a calendar year. Racepass officials say that runners will save money by getting Racepass.

The problem, as I found out in an email from a fellow Capital Striders board member on Sunday, is that races are being posted on the Racepass site without consent or knowledge of the races. I am the race director Sept. 17 Capital Pursuit 10-mile and 5-kilometer races in Des Moines for a second consecutive year. When I went to Racepass and searched for our race, it showed up on their map

I took a poll of our board members and the consensus was strong disapproval of being linked with Racepass. Here’s why. Racepass was originally filling out waivers on behalf of the runners who registered – a no-no if the race’s insurance is to be valid – while also signing up the runner.

Just days after the rollout May 12, Racepass did change its policy and decided that subcribers would have to fill out waivers for each race individually. Racepass still uses its credit card to pay the entrant’s race fee.

Still, the Capital Striders firmly believe the individual signing up for one of our four races must be the one signing up on Get Me Registered, our registration partner, or signing a waiver personally on the day of the race.

I emailed Racepass on Monday requesting that our race be taken down immediately from their site map. As of Thursday night, Capital Pursuit was still listed on their map. And I’m furious.

Race directors in Iowa should take notice and see if their race is listed with Racepass. I did a search of races in Iowa. Some of the more prominent races: Kickoff to Kinnick 5k in Iowa City; Beaverdale Beaverdash in Des Moines; Run Loess Half Marathon in Council Bluffs; Lake Red Rock Balloon 5k/10k in Pella; Grinnell Games 5k in Grinnell. There were many, many more in Iowa and 5,000 nationally.

Racepass founders and Google employees Chase Rigby, Thomas Hammel and Thomas Hansen tried to answer questions by writer Derek Murphy after Racepass’ release on May 12. Murphy writes articles for the website www.marathoninvestigation.com and questioned Racepass’ intentions after its release.

Racepass has three levels. The Contender allows a runner to enter three races of marathon/half marathon/10k/5k or fun run distance for $195 a year. The Athlete covers registration for five races of the same distances for $295 a year. The new Pro level covers registration for 12 races for $695 a year.

Racepass is not currently selling the Pro level. The founders told Murphy after being questioned that they are sold out of the initial Propass, which allowed unlimited registrations to races for $695 a year. The founders did not disclose to Murphy how many original Propasses were sold.

The Pro level is currently at 12 races in a calendar and you can see why they have changed it. An avid runner who competes in races nearly every weekend would easily rack up a huge bill for Racepass. Let’s say an avid marathoner already with the Propass will race 40 races a year at $50 per race. That comes to a total charge of $2,000, which is considerably less than the $695 fee. Racepass would likely be bankrupt by continuing such a plan.

Shouldn’t Racepass fill out a contract with each race that it lists on its site? You bet. If they’re profiting from Capital Pursuit, we need to know.

It’s pretty clear Racepass is a money-grab for three guys, though avid runners, who are circumventing the critical approval needed from race directors nationally while avoiding forming these important relationships.

As a race director, I hope Racepass suffers a quick death.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: In the past month-plus I've run in three races, all in hot weather. And to my surprise, I've put in three of the best races during my very long running career.

I had no business running well at the Dam to Dam 5k in early June, with my mind still focused on writing my half marathon story for Register Media and very little warm-up beforehand. But there I was on that Saturday in 80-degree weather, turning in an 18:42 effort that at the time was just 19 seconds behind my age-group PR.

Then I went up to the final Marathon to Marathon in Storm Lake and ran a very smart race in taking the half marathon title on a hot June 10 morning. I hydrated very well in preparation and stuck to my 6:45 pace early, not willing to chase after the leader from Illinois who opened a 40-second lead. My patience was rewarded when the leader slowed dramatically between miles 6 and 7 and I passed him with ease. I continued to run at 6:40 pace until mile 10, when I still felt strong. I decided to quicken the pace and by the end coming into Marathon I was running at about 6:05 pace. My 1:27:41 time would have easily been under 1:25 in better weather.

Then, last Sunday, I surprised myself by running 18:27 at the Ankeny Optimists 5k in sunny 75-degree weather. I opened with a 5:48 mile and didn't feel like I slowed much at all in the final two miles. I didn't have a working Garmin for the race, which probably cost me a shot at my masters and 45-49 age-group best of 18:24 set at Capital Pursuit in 2013. I didn't know how close I was to my record until just 30 or so meters from the finish line. By that time, it was too late to adjust.

Throw in my triple set of legs totaling 14.5 miles with a 6:30 pace for our winning masters team at Market to Market Relay and it's been a heck of a 2017.

The overriding theme of these three races, besides the heat, is that I haven't felt fresh going in. I've had a lot of leg stiffness going into each race, the result of attempting to run a lifetime-best 2,017 miles in 2017. I'm running about seven miles a day to reach this target.

So I should taper for an upcoming race, like the Bix 7. I likely won't until the fall when cooler weather prevails.

CALLING ALL ELITES: The Capital Pursuit road race is again offering free entry to elite runners who meet time qualifications for the event Sunday, Sept. 17 at Western Gateway Park. The standards for the featured 10-mile race are 58 minutes for the men and 1:04 for the women, or an equivalent pace for other races.

As mentioned before, I am the race director this year and elite entry inquiries should be made to me at: lance@capitalstriders.org.